For the first time, Google has opened its mouth against the patent trolling by Apple (and by proxy, Microsoft) against Android manufacturers. By way of Eric Schmidt, Google's chairman, the company took stand against the legal actions, and stated they aren't too worried. If need be, Google will ensure HTC doesn't lose the patent case against Apple.

I am sorry if I offended you, but I don't know what agenda I was trying to push. I am simply trying to listen to the ideas that others may have to fixing the software patent problems.

Here's a clue: you painted all people that support abolishing software/ideas patents with a rather wide brush (lazyness). And you're are surprised by the reaction and talk about how mature and educated you are.

I do realize that saying the answer was lazy came across wrong. It isn't that I feel abolishing software patents is not the correct solution, I was just trying to get more reasons why it is the correct solution. I was more thinking that if your only response is "No more software patents" without giving reasons is lazy.

Not in direct response to molnarcs, just some more thoughts

I think it is worth while for software developers to educate, not mock or insult, those that really want to know the problem. If the problem with the patent system is ever going to be changed (of course whether anything gets changed by our government is an entirely different topic) it will have to be done by lawyers, politicians, and the voters, of which I think it is safe to say a majority are not software engineers or patent attorneys. So I think if anyone that is not a software developer tries to learn more of the problem that developers are facing, and in the process show their ignorance, it would be best to try and help them understand. Insults and mocking just make someone not care.

Sorry if I sounded a bit harsh... You're right, the only way to change things is to make the public aware of the threats and problems software patents pose.

Unfortunately, because of the nature of the problem, this is really really difficult to communicate. You have to do marketing at the level and quality of Apple to get the message across, and though there is plenty of incentive to do it, there is not much funding.

The easiest solution is to abolish or not allow software patents. Another solution would be to severely limit their validity - 6-9 months is a reasonable time period, anything longer would not make much sense in the software industry (except for the current players, of course).

Anyway, software patents were defeated in the European Parliament a couple of times, but I do think that the EPO is just waiting for an opportunity to smuggle it back somehow. They are relentless. There is Big Money in patents and a lot of interests involved (protecting market share or simple extortion). We must stay vigilant.